With a mix of top returners, a top transfer and highly-touted recruit, Duke enters 2013-14 as the preseason No. 4 team in the Coaches Poll. / Mark Dolejs for USA TODAY

by Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

by Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

Want to get to know college basketball's top teams - from the star-studded freshmen to the grizzled vets?

College basketball reporters Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell break down each of the top 25 teams in the preseason USA TODAY Sports men's basketball coaches poll:

1. Kentucky (21-12)

Points: 767 (16 first-place votes). Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Even by John Calipari standards, this is a heck of a freshman class, one that rivals, and perhaps surpasses, Michigan's Fab Five. F Julius Randle leads a crop of six McDonald's All-Americans into Lexington, where they're joined by returning sophomores and de facto veterans Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein. The plethora of pro-ready players will help Kentucky bounce back from a disappointing 2012-13, which ended with a first-round NIT loss. Calipari's biggest challenge? Finding enough minutes for everyone. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. UNC-Asheville.

2. Michigan State (27-9)

Points: 749 (3). Previous ranking: 13. Outlook: College basketball is at the point where most of the bluebloods must rebuild annually and the best teams from outside power conferences are the most experienced. This team is an exception. Give coach Tom Izzo four returning starters, one of the nation's best backcourts (Gary Harris, Keith Appling) as well as Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne and you have the formula for yet another Final Four. One word of caution: The Spartans must improve on their turnover rate. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. McNeese State.

3. Louisville (35-5)

Points: 741 (10). Previous ranking: 1. Outlook: With all the talk about Kentucky's fantastic freshmen, the defending national champion has somehow been overshadowed. But These Cardinals will give Rick Pitino a real chance at back-to-back titles. Louisville loses PG Peyton Siva and C Gorgui Dieng, but everyone else returns, including leading scorer Russ Smith. Montrezl Harrell and Luke Hancock - the Final Four's most outstanding player - appear primed for breakout seasons. Opens: Nov. 9 vs. College of Charleston.

4. Duke (30-6)

Points: 710 (3). Previous ranking: 5. Outlook: Always formidable, the Blue Devils are poised to field their most athletic team in more than a decade. With an abundance of versatile players, they possess one of the nation's more intriguing rosters. Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood and heralded freshman Jabari Parker should thrive in an up-tempo, pressing style that will illustrate coach Mike Krzyzewski's deft ability to adapt to his personnel. If they can compensate for the dearth of traditional big men, Krzyzewski could claim his fifth national title in April. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Davidson (ESPNU, 7).

5. Arizona (27-8)

Points: 637. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: The Wildcats lost three of their top four scorers, and it shouldn't matter. This team will expertly blend talent and experience. Aaron Gordon could be the best freshman in the nation, and he'll be mixed in with Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski, bigs who played significant minutes as freshmen last season. Add Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell and junior Nick Johnson in the backcourt, and if all goes according to plan, Sean Miller's squad should be the best in the Pac-12 and likely playing deep into March. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Cal Poly (Pac-12, 10).

6. Kansas (31-6)

Points: 623. Previous ranking: 8. Outlook: Freshman Andrew Wiggins is getting most of the headlines - understandably, considering his athleticism and presumed top spot in the 2014 NBA draft - but there are other elite freshmen to keep an eye on, such as Wayne Selden and Joel Embiid. These Jayhawks will be young and might have growing pains, but by the end of the season should be in the hunt for a 10th consecutive Big 12 title. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

7. Syracuse (30-10)

Points: 551. Previous ranking: 3. Outlook: Jim Boeheim's Orange will have a new look - most notably freshman PG Tyler Ennis instead of Michael Carter-Williams - and a new conference, the ACC. C.J. Fair, who averaged 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds last season before spurning the pros, should be in the ACC player of the year race. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Cornell.

8. Florida (29-8)

Points: 550. Previous ranking: 9. Outlook: At full strength, the Gators will be well positioned to advance to their fourth consecutive Elite Eight (or beyond), but their autumn has been shrouded in uncertainty. Scottie Wilbekin was suspended indefinitely because of unspecified team violations, and Rutgers transfer Eli Carter and Will Yeguete continue to recover from injuries. Florida last season was one of only two teams - Louisville the other - to finish in the top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Gone are the top three scorers, but Billy Donovan has enough depth and experience for another deep tournament run. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. North Florida.

9. Michigan (31-8)

Points: 548. Previous ranking: 2. Outlook: The Wolverines lost two NBA first-round picks in Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. but should remain in the Big Ten title hunt because of the return of Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III. McGary, the breakout star of the NCAA tournament, could be a first-team All-American. The Wolverines might struggle to repeat as the nation's most efficient offense without Burke. But one wise move is never to count out the offensive mind of coach John Beilein. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Massachusetts-Lowell.

10. Ohio State (29-8)

Points: 533. Previous ranking: 6. Outlook: PG Aaron Craft will continue to wreak havoc defensively and get under the skin of opposing fans. Lenzelle Smith Jr. will continue to be solid beside Craft in the backcourt. But can the Buckeyes overcome the loss of Deshaun Thomas and his 19.8 points a game? If LaQuinton Ross can provide more scoring, coach Thad Matta's name finally might be removed from the list of best coaches yet to win a national title. Opens: Nov. 9 vs. Morgan State.

11. North Carolina (25-11)

Points: 494. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Few college players had a more turbulent offseason than P.J. Hairston, and much of it was self-inflicted. But once he is finished sitting for what remains an undisclosed number of games, he should shine on the court. Another All-America candidate, James Michael McAdoo, is primed for a standout season. Coach Roy Williams has size and enough star power to challenge the upper echelon of the ACC. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Oakland (Mich.)

12. Oklahoma State (24-9)

Points: 462. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Marcus Smart would have been a sure-fire lottery pick had he declared for the NBA draft. But he didn't, and it is college basketball's gain. His return makes Oklahoma State a real threat to end Kansas' nine-year streak of Big 12 titles. Smart won't (and won't have to) do it alone. F Le'Bryan Nash and wing Markel Brown returned, too; they and Smart combined to score 45 points a game last season. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Mississippi Valley State.

13. Memphis (31-5)

Points: 334. Previous ranking: 18. Outlook: Having departed Conference USA, the Tigers' path to a league title will be much more treacherous in the American Athletic. But this is the deepest team in Josh Pastner's tenure, which enters its fifth season. A masterful recruiter, Pastner hauled in a banner class that includes frontcourt gem Austin Nichols. Add returning guards in seniors Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford, and it's time for Memphis to advance deep in the NCAAs. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Christian Brothers.

14. Gonzaga (32-3)

Points: 270. Previous ranking: 12. Outlook: Now in his 15th season, Coach Mark Few has turned the Bulldogs into a perennial national contender. But the Final Four remains elusive. Few should continue to win big in the regular season, but there are more question marks after losing 7-footer Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris. Kevin Pangos, who led the team in minutes, should be the WCC's best player. But who steps up in the frontcourt to fill the void left by Olynyk? Opens: Nov. 9 vs. Bryant.

15. Virginia Commonwealth (27-9)

Points: 258. Previous ranking: 23. Outlook: Shaka Smart won't come out and say it exactly, but this is likely the best and deepest team he's had at VCU. He lost his backcourt (floor general Darius Theus and sharpshooter Troy Daniels), but he returns six of his top eight. Juvonte Reddic, Treveon Graham, Briante Weber and Rob Brandenberg ensure that the team is in good hands. VCU's trademark HAVOC defense isn't going anywhere, either. So let the nightmares continue for opposing coaches. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Illinois State.

16. Wichita State (30-9)

Points: 233. Previous ranking: 4. Outlook: After a Final Four appearance, the Shockers are, well, not going to shock anyone anymore. Leading scorer Cleanthony Early returns along with Ron Baker, who missed most of last season with a foot injury. With Creighton now in the Big East, Wichita State will be the Valley team with the target on its back. Opens: Nov. 9 vs. Emporia (Kan.) State.

17. Marquette (26-9)

Points: 230. Previous ranking: 11. Outlook: Buzz Williams' teams have a reputation of being tough -and good. Rightfully so. Even after losing three starters, the Golden Eagles shouldn't miss a beat, coming off of an Elite Eight appearance. Davante Gardner and Jamil Wilson anchor a strong frontcourt, and freshman Gs JaJuan Johnson and Duane Wilson could play significant minutes early. Marquette has had at least 22 wins in each of coach Buzz Williams' first five seasons; expect that trend to continue. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Southern (FSN, 8).

18. Oregon (28-9)

Points: 175. Previous ranking: 15. Outlook: Dana Altman's Ducks surprised quite a few by winning the Pac-12 tournament and reaching the Sweet 16 last spring. Altman lost some key veterans, but he's reloaded his roster with transfers, UNLV's Mike Moser and Houston's Joseph Young (if eligible) being the headliners. The Ducks will once again be among the Pac-12's top contenders, thanks in large part to Gs Damyean Dotson and Dominic Artis, both sophomores. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Georgetown in Seoul, South Korea (ESPN, 7).

19. Connecticut (20-10)

Points: 167. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: You need strong guard play to win in college basketball, and the Huskies should thrive because they boast one of the nation's best backcourts. Now eligible for postseason play, coach Kevin Ollie has a trio of capable guards in senior Shabazz Napier, junior Ryan Boatright and sophomore Omar Calhoun. Unless DeAndre Daniels or another big man can make a significant contribution on the boards, rebounding will be an issue. Nevertheless, expect the Huskies to challenge Louisville and Memphis for the AAC crown and remain in the national conversation. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Maryland in Brooklyn, N.Y. (ESPN2, 6:30).

20. New Mexico (29-6)

Points: 153. Previous ranking: 19. Outlook: New coach Craig Neal got a pretty good parting gift from longtime friend and former head coach Steve Alford, who left for UCLA. The Lobos return four starters (including Kendall Williams, the Mountain West player of the year last season) from a team that was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. Add new coach Craig Neal's son, Cullen, New Mexico's 2012 Gatorade high school player of the year, and junior college transfer Deshawn Delaney to the mix, and you have a team that can be as good or better than last season. Opens: Nov. 9 vs. Alabama A&M.

21. Wisconsin (23-12)

Points: 148. Previous ranking: 22. Outlook: Much of the faith in the Badgers this year reflects faith in coach Bo Ryan, and for good reason. Under Ryan, they have never finished worse than fourth in the Big Ten. There's uncertainty in the frontcourt, but Sam Dekker finished his freshman season strong. G Ben Brust, the team's most experienced player, is invaluable. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. St. John's in Sioux Falls, S.D.

22. Notre Dame (25-10)

Points: 128. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: The Fighting Irish enter the ACC with four starters returning, including Gs Jerian Grant and Eric Watkins. Add freshman G Demetrius Jackson, and it's clear the strength will be the backcourt. Notre Dame must replace last year's leading rebounder Jack Cooley and figure out its frontcourt, but no matter what, Mike Brey should be feeling pretty good about the group he has. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Miami (Ohio).

23. UCLA (25-10)

Points: 121. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: It remains to be seen whether new coach Steve Alford can meet UCLA's often over-the-top expectations. Having Jordan Adams, frankly the team's best player last season, healthy will be a major plus. But questionable depth and point guard play probably will hinder the Bruins from posing a legitimate threat to Arizona atop the Pac-12. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Drexel (Pac-12, midnight).

24. Indiana (29-7)

Points: 118. Previous ranking: 7. Outlook: The Hoosiers lost four starters from a Sweet 16 team, including top-five picks in Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. But Indiana's cupboard isn't bare. Tom Crean can rely on two returning stars - sophomore Yogi Ferrell and senior Will Sheehey - and Arizona State transfer Evan Gordon. Mix in some talented freshmen, and this looks like a team that should finish in the top half of the Big Ten. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. Chicago State.

25. Virginia (23-12)

Points: 103. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: The ACC is stronger, but so are the Cavaliers. Senior Joe Harris, the team's leading scorer, is the only returning first-team all-ACC honoree. Akil Mitchell, Mike Tobey and Anthony Gill, a transfer from South Carolina, comprise one of the nation's better frontcourts. The Cavaliers have depth and experience, so if they get sound point guard play, this should be coach Tony Bennett's best team in his five seasons in Charlottesville. Opens: Nov. 8 vs. James Madison.